Educational apparatus



Sept 9 1941 A. J. WATLING 2,255,521

EDUCATI ONAL AP PARATUS Sept 9 11941- A. J. WATLIG 2,255,521

EDUCATIONAL APPARATUS Filed Jan. 2, 1940 4 sheets-sheet 2 Sept 9, 1941-'v A. J. wATLlNG l 2,255,521

EDUCATIONAL APPARATUS Sept. 9, 1941. A, J. WATLING 2,255,521

EDUCATIONAL APPARATUS Filed Jan. 2, 1940 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 WWWM PatentedSept. 9, 1941 I UNITED sr rines 8 Claims.

The present invention relates to educational devices of the right andwrong question and answer type which are adapted to be operated inconnection with weighing scales wherein the user of the device utilizesa coin for the actuation of the weighing mechanism, and for the depositof the coin obtains a reading of his weight upon an indicator dial.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a devicewherein the operator may, in depositing his c oin in one of a pluralityof slots, indicate whether or not a statement displayed to him by themachine is true or false, and wherein dependent upon the correctness ofhis answer the device will deliver the coin deposited in one or theother of a plurality of compartments.

More specifically the present invention contemplates a device of thischaracter wherein a legend carrying unit which is adapted to carry anddisplay a legend or character is interconnected with a coin slotcontrolling mechanism in such manner that for each character or legenddisplayed the coin slots are opened to different receptacles and inwhich an intermediate mecha- `nism actuated by the change of thecharacter or legend controls the directing of the coins in order thateither slot may empty into either coin receptacle depending upon thechanges made by the intermediate mechanism. The intermediate mechanismmay reverse the connections of the coin slots to the receptacles ormaintain them the same for `changes of character or legend andvariations may be made by simple changes in the intermediate mechanism.

One form of the invention is shown in connection with a weighing scalewherein the user inserts a coin and receives for his coin an indicationof his weight. The mechanism comprising the present invention isattached to the weighing mechanism in such a way that the actuationofthe weighing mechanism by a person stepping upon the platform, and theinsertion of a coin, which is necessary to obtain a reading of theweight, cooperate to release the motive force for actuating theeducational device.

The educational device itself forming the subject matter of theinvention operates automatically after the insertion of the coin toindicate whether or not the operator has inserted the coin in thecorrect slot. This indication, however, is not made by a change of thelegend or character until the operator steps off the scales and allowsthe weighing mechanism to reset itself.

The features and advantages of the invention will appear more fully fromthe following description, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein a preferred form of the invention is shown. Y

In the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a View in front elevation, with parts of the casing brokenaway, of the weighing scale embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in front elevation of themechanism shown in the upper part of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged view in front elevation of that portion of themechanism shown in the upper center of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the opposite side tothe showing of Fig. 3 and illustrating certain parts of the samemechanism;

Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a coin-receiving tray which is part ofthe mechanism;

Fig, 6 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 6--6of Fig. 1;

Fig. 7 *isy a detail view showing part of the mechanism in-the upperpart of Fig. 6, being partly in section as shown at the line 1 1 VofFig. 12;

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional View taken substantially at the line8--8 of Fig. 12 and illustrating a portion of the coin-directingmechanism; I l

Fig. 9 i-s an enlarged vertical sectional view illustrating the shaftand its associated parts as shown at the bottom portion of Fig. 6;

Fig; 10 is a sectional view taken on the line Iii-Ill of Fig. 9;

Fig. 11v is a face view of the indicating head of the weighing scaleswhere 'the coin slots, the legend display and the weight indications arefound;

Fig. 12 is a sectional View taken on the I2-I2 of Fig. 6;

Fig. 13 is a sectional view on the line I3-I3 of Fig. 12; and v Fig. 14is a sectional View on the line I4-I4 of Fig. 13.

Referring now to the drawings, the present invention is shown asembodied in a weighing scale having a platform Ill and suitable controlmechanism indicated generally by the numeral I I, this control mechanismbeing located in an upright portion I2 of the casing for the scale. Theupright portion of the casing terminates in a display head I3, which hastherein a dial I4 (see Figs. 6, 1l and 12). The dial I4 is covered by atransparent shield I5 which may be held in line place in the usualfashion by a rim I5. The head I3 is provided with a plurality of coinslots I1 and I 8, there being two shown in the present instance. Thehead is also provided with an opening I9 through the dial I4, thepurpose of this opening being to display certain legends, characters andthe like, as Willbe presently explained. I have also indicated at 26 and2| the usual charts which accompany scales of this character to indicatethe correct weights for certain height-s.

The coin slots I1 and I6 are substantially the same. The slot I8connects with a tube 22 which has a hinged lower portion 23 (see Fig.6), the hinged lower portion being so arranged that it can be directedover either of a plurality of channels 24 and 25. A spring 26 normallytends to hold the hinged portion 23 of the tube over the channel 24.This tube, however, has a projection 21 thereon, which is adapted toengage a 'control wheel 28. The -slot I1 connects with correspendingtubes 22a and 23a, the latter of which has a projection 21a normallyheld by a spring 26a` in engagement with a control wheel 26a.

The control Wheels 28 and 23a are carried by a shaft 29 (see Figs. 6 and12), the shaft 29 being in turn provided with a drum 3i), over which anendless belt 3I is mounted. The belt 3I is adapted to carry anydesirable legend or character or display design which will convey amessage to the operator of the scales. Although the details thereof arenot shown, the endless conveyor 3I may be suitably arranged so as topermit the ready changing of the legends or displays carried thereby. Asecond drum 32 is mounted on a shaft 33 which is supported by twobrackets 34 and 34 from the rear wall of the casing head I3. The shaft29 is supported upon two upwardl7 extending bars 35 and 36 which arefastened to a central panel 31 within the casing I 2.

Suitable means are provided whereby to rotate the shaft 29 and itscontrol wheels 28 and 28a. This means comprises a ratchet wheel 38 xedon the shaft 29, a pawl 39 engaging the ratchet wheel, and a pawl arm 46pivoted on the shaft 29 and adapted to move the gravity operated pawl39. A spring 4I is xed on the arm 35 and is adapted to ride on theratchet wheel 38 to prevent overrunning thereof. It will be lunderstoodthat if the arm 4D is moved up and down, r

the upward movement of the arm will cause the pawl 39 to swing over atooth of the ratchet wheel against the weight of the heel 39a. of thepawl, but on the downstroke of the arm 40, the pawl will turn theratchet wheel 38 with it. In this manner, the control wheels 28 and 28amay be turned a step at a time.

The control wheels 28 and 26a have depressions 42 in the peripherythereof, these depressions being spaced in such manner as the controldesired shall dictate. In the present instance, the depressions 42 areso arranged on the respective wheels 23 and 28a. as to cause the hingedportions 23 and 23a of the coin tubes to always occupy oppositepositions with respect to the channels 24 and 25. It may require two ormore steps of rotation of the wheels 28 and 23a to work a change in theposition of the coin tubes with respect to the channels 24 and 25.However by arranging the depressions in the control wheels in accordancewith a predetermined pattern, depending upon the message or legends uponthe endless conveyor 3i, it is possible to provide a multitude ofchanges from one channel to the other for each of the coin tubes, thusgiving a wide variety of interest in the legends or statements that canbe put upon the conveyor 3i, requiring a selection of one out of twopossible responses by the operator. The manner in which the operatorresponds to the information displayed to him from the conveyor 3I is bychoosing which one of the coin slots I1 and I8 will receive his coin.For example, a statement may be shown through the opening I9, and thecoin slots may carry the indications, True for the slot I1, and Falsefor the slot I8. The operator, who desires to obtain his weight, insertsthe coin, which he must insert to obtain his weight, in the slot whichhe believes gives the correct analysis of the statement displayed. Oneof the slots will direct his money to the tube 23, and the other to thetube 23a. Depending upon the position of these movable tubes, theoperators coin will go into channel 24 or 25. 'Ihese channels deliverthe coin to a receiving tray 43 (see Fig, 6). The receiving tray 43 isshown in perspective in Fig. 5 as being provided with a partition 43a,so that the coin received thereby will go in pocket 45 if it is receivedfrom the channel 24, and will go in pocket 44 if it is received from thechannel 25. The tray 43 is carried by an arm 46 and is adapted todeliver its 4contents into a split chute 41. One section 41a of thechute 41 extends directly downward to a coin box as shown in Fig. 1,while the other section 41h extends outwardly to a return tray 48 at oneside of the `casing l2.

The mechanism by which the weighing operation takes place and controlsthe rotation of the control wheels 26 and 28a will now be described.Referring to Figs. 1 to 4 inclusive, the weighing mechanism II isconnected to a vertically extending rackbar 49. This rack-bar has teeth56 thereon which are adapted to engage the teeth of a pinion 5I which iskeyed to a shaft 52. The shaft 52 is rotatably journalled in a bearingblock 53 that is mounted on a cross-frame 54 which also carries thepanel 31. The crossframe 54 has an opening 55 therein (see Fig. 9), andthe bearing block 53 has a flange 56 which is riveted to the frame 54,the block 53 extending through the opening, as shown clearly in Fig. 9.The shaft 52 has a disk 51 xed thereto on the side of the frame 54opposite the pinion 5I. The disk 51 has a projection 53 thereon which isadapted to engage a projection 59 on a member 66, which is rotatablymounted on the shaft 52. The member 66 includes a pinion 6I which isengaged by a second rack-bar 62. The member 6i) includes a ratchet-wheel63, and the projection .59 is on the ratchet-wheel part of the member6D.

From the foregoing description, it will be evident that the rack-bar 49,when drawn down by a Weight being placed on the platform I6, will rotatethe pinion 5I and the shaft 52. This will also rotate the disk 51, andat the end of the downward motion of the rack-bar 49, the disk 51 willbe stopped in a certain position, so that its projection 56 will act asa limiting stop for the projection 59 on the member 66 when this memberis rotated in the same direction as the shaft 52 is rotated, as ishereinafter described. It will be understood, of course, that theprojections 58 and 59 are arranged to engage eaoh other, so that theprojection 58 may act as a limiting stop for the projection 59. Theratchet wheel 63 forming part of the member is normally prevented fromrotating by a pawl 64 (see Fig. 3). The pawl 64 naturally falls bygravity into engagement with the teeth of the ratchet-wheel 63. It has apin 65 which the lever 69 and is adapted to engage the ratchetwheel 63to prevent rotation thereof when the lever 69 is moved from the positionshown in Fig. 3 in a clockwise direction. It will be evident that if thearm 66 is lifted to move the pin 61 up out of the notch 68a in theadjacent end of the lever 69, this lever can turn in a clock- 'wisedirection until it strikes a stop pin 13. This will bring the pawl I2into engagement with the ratchet-wheel 63. The arm 66 is adapted to beactuated by the tilting of the coin tray 43. As shown, the coin tray 43is carried by the rod or arm 46. This rod extends parallel to thecross-frame and is pivoted thereto by a pivot pin 74. The bar 66 carriesa pin 'I5 which rides upon the portion 46a of the rod 46 extendingtoward the right in Fig. 4. The coin tray 43 is so counterbalanced by aweight 45h on the eXtension 46a that, when a coin is received in thetray, the weight of the coin causes the tray to swing from the full lineposition shown in Fig. 4 to the dotted line position shown. Thisswinging movement will lift the pin 'I5 and with it the arm 66 torelease the lever 69. The first operation is, of course, to release thepawl 64, and this permits the weight of the rack-bar 62 to turn themember 6D until the projection 59 thereon strikes the projection 58.

The bar 62, in its downward movement, is adapted to operate the pawl arm46. The mechanism by which this operation is carried out is shown bestin Figs. 2 and 6. The upper end of the rack-bar 62 has teeth 76 whichengage the teeth of a pinion 'I'I on a shaft 18. The shaft I3 isjournalled in a bearing 'I9 on the dial I4, and in a bearing 80 on theupper end of the panel 3l. The free end of the shaft 'I3 extends intothe dial I4 and carries a weightindicating pointer 8l. v

A link 82 extends downwardly from the pawl operating arm 46 and ispivoted to a lever 83 which is pivotally mounted by a pivot screw 84 onthe panel 3l. The lever 83 is urged to turn in a clockwise direction bya spring link connection 85 which connects the end of the lever oppositethe link 82 to the cross-frame 54. A link 86 also connects this end ofthe lever 83 to a pivoted arm 81, the arm 8l being pivoted on thecross-frame 54. The rack-bar 49 has a pin 98 extending underneath thearm 8l so as to raise this arm when the rack-bar 49 moves upwardly atthe end of a weighing operation.

On the panel 3l, there is pivoted a trip lever 69, one end of whichextends horizontally and engages beneath a pin 99 on the rack-,bar 62.The other end of the lever 69 extends upwardly and hooks over a pin 9|that is mounted on the lever arm Y63. A slot 92 is cut in the panel 31to receive the pin 9I. The trip lever 89 is normally urged in acounterclockwise direction by a spring 93.

In order that the operation of the device may be fully understood, theaction of the several parts will now be described in connection with acomplete cycle of operations occasioned by a customer steppingupon theplatform I6. The iirst reaction to the weight of the customer upon theplatform is the depression of the rack-bar 49.v This depression causesthe teeth 50 of the rack-bar to rotate the pinion 5I and the shaft 52.Since the projections 58 and 59 are left in contact at the end of aweighing operation, the degree of rotation of the shaft 52 will bemeasured by the angular distance between the projections when thecustomer steps upon the platform I IJ. `It will be remembered that atthis tim-e the pawl 64 is in engagement with the teeth of theratchet-wheel 63 so as to hold the member 66 stationary. It will also beremembered that the endless conveyor 3l is in such position that astatement is displayed through the opening I9 in the dial I4. Thecustomer at this time, in order to determine the reading of hisweight,must insert a coin which in turn will pass down to the coin tray 43 anddepress the coin tray so as to cause the rod 46 to lift the arrn 66 andthe pawl 64. The wheels 28 and 28a control the coin tubes 23 and 23a,and one of the coin tubes will be over the channel 24, while the otherwill be over the channel 25. The customer reads the statement displayedin the opening I9 and decides which one of the coin slots he will placehis coin in. Assuming that the stat-ement can be said to be true orfalse and that the slots il and I6 are labeled true and falsc, it willbe seen that the customer may test his knowledge by inserting the coinin the proper slot. If he is correct in his analysis of the statement,the wheels 28 and 23a, will return his coin into the channel which leadsto the return tray 48.

The turning of the coin tray rod 46 results in the release of the pawl64, and the weight of the rack-bar 62 turns the member 66 until theprojection 59 catches up with the projection 58, whereupon the downwardmovement of the rackbar 62 will stop. The rack-bar 62 in this movementturns the pointer 8| by rotating the shaft I8 and thus indicates theweight of the customer on the dial I4. The downward movement of therack-bar 62 turns the trip lever 89 in a clockwise direction so as torelease the pin 9| and allow the lever 83 to turn in a clockwisedirection. The spring S5 will, of course, cause the lever 83 to turn.This will lift the link 32 and with it the pawl arm 46 so as to causethe pawl 39 to step over one tooth of the ratchet-wheel 38.

Now, when the customer steps off the platform Ill, the rack-bar 49, ofcourse, moves back upward to itsv original position under the influenceof the counterbalancing means of the Weighing apparatus. In this upwardmovement, the rackbar rotates the pinion 5I and the shaft 52, andbecause of the position of the projections 58 and 59 together, it alsorotates the member 66 and lifts the rack-bar l62, thereby returning thepointer 8| to zero position. The upward movement of the rack-bar 49causes the pin B8 to move the arm 8l upwardly. This inturn causes thelink 86 to rotate the lever S3 in a counterclockwise direction, as shownin Fig. 2, against the force of the spring 85. The link 82 will thus bepulled down so as to pull down on the pawl arm 40 and cause the pawl 3Sto rotate the ratchet-wheel 38 one step to bring a new legend orstatement into view in the opening I9 and to cause the wheels 28 and 23ato reset their corresponding coin tubes 23 and 23a with respect to thechannels 24 and 25. The spring 92 will move the trip lever 89 back intoengagement with the pin 9|, as will be readily understood, The mechanismis thus returned to operative position.

The coin tray 43, of course, returns immediately to its full lineposition, as shown in Fig. 4, after it has discharged the coin. Thisreturn movement allows the pin 15 and the arm 66 to drop down so thatthe pin 61 can again engage in the notch 68a. The shape of the pawl 12is such that upon the reverse rotation of the ratchet-wheel E3, thispawl forces the lever 69 to turn in a counter-clockwise direction inorder to bring the notch 68a under the pin 6l.

From the foregoing description, it is believed that the construction andoperation of this device will be readily apparent to those skilled inthis art. Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new anddesire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In an educational devicev of the right and wrong question and answertype, the combination of a casing, two tubes opening through the wall ofthe casing for the deposit of coins in the tubes, coin distributingrmeans located below said tubes providing two separate channels forcarrying coins to two different points, means for directing coins fromsaid deposit tubes to said distributing means comprising two movablytubular members each communicating at its upper end with one of saiddeposit tubes for taking a coin therefrom and movable from one operativeposition to another for delivering the coin alternately into either ofthe two channels of said distributing means, and control means formoving said tubular members in unison adapted to position one of saidtubular members for delivering to one of said channels and at the sametime to position the other of said tubular members for delivering to theother channel.

2. In an educational device of the right and wrong question and answertype, the combination of a casing, two tubes opening through the wall ofthe casing for the deposit of coins in the tubes, coin distributingmeans located in downwardly spaced relation to said deposit tubescomprising downwardly extending tubes providing two separate ducts forcarrying coins to diierent points, tubular members pivotally mountedbelow said first-named tubes so as to communicate with said first-namedtubes for taking coins therefrom and movable into position to delivercoins alternatively to either of said second-named tubes, and controlmeans for moving said pivotally mounted tubular members in unison inopposite directions so as to position one of said tubular members fordelivering to one of said second-named tubes and at the same time toposition the other of said tubular members for delivering to the otherof said secondi named tubes.

3. In an educational device of the right and wrong question and answertype, the combination of a casing, two tubes opening through the wall ofthe casing for the deposit of coins in the tubes, coin distributingmeans located in downwardly spaced relation to said deposit tubes andcomrising downwardly extending tubes providing two separate ducts forcarrying coins to different points, tubular members pivotalli7 mountedbelow said rst-named tubes so as to communicate with said rst-namedtubes for taking coins therefrom and movable into position to delivercoins alternatively to either of said secondnamed tubes, and controlmeans comprising notched rotary members adapted by a camming engagementwith said tubular members to swing the tubular members in unison inopposite directions so as to position one of said tubular members fordelivering to one of said second- Cil named tub-es and at the same timeto position the other of said tubular members for delivering to theother of said second-named tubes.

4. In an educational device of the right and wrong question and answertype, the combination of a casing, two tubes opening through the wall ofthe casing for the deposit of coins in the tubes, coin distributingmeans located in downwardly spaced relation to said deposit tubes andcomprising downwardly extending tubes providing two separate ducts forcarrsflng coins to different points, tubular members pivotally mountedbelow said rst-named tubes so as to communicate with said rst-namedtubes for taking coins therefrom and movable into position to delivercoins alternatively to either of said secondnamed tubes, yielding meansnormally holding said pivotally mounted tubular members in position fordelivering to the same one of said second-named tubes, notched controlwheels rotatably mounted opposite to said pivotally mounted tubularmembers respectively with the notches in one wheel staggered withrespect to the notches in the other wheel, and projections on saidtubular members adapted by engagement with the circular portions of thecontrol wheels between said notches to hold the tubular membersdisplaced against the action of said yielding means for delivering tothe other of said second-named tubes.

5. In an educational device of the right and wrong question and answertype, the combination of a casing having a window, a legend or statementcarrying device movably mounted in said casing and movable to diierentpositions so as to display the legends or statements one at a timethrough said window, two tubes opening through the wall of the casingfor the deposit of coins in the tubes, coin distributing means locatedbelow said tubes providing two separate channels for carrying coins totwo different points, means for directing coins from said deposit tubesto said distributing means comprising two movably mounted tubularmembers each communicating at its upper end with one of said deposittubes for taking a coin therefrom and movable from one operativeposition to another for delivering the coin alternatively into either ofthe two channels of said distributing means, control means for movingsaid tubular members in unison adapted to position one member fordelivering to one of said channels and at the same time to position theother member for delivering to the other channel, and means for givingsaid display device and said control means for said tubular membersleffective movements in timed relation to each other.

6. In an educational device of the right and wrong question and answertype, the combination of a casing having a window, a legend or statementcarrying device movably mounted in said casing and movable to dierentpositions so as to display the legends or statements one at a timethrough said window, two tubes opening through the wall of the casingfor the deposit of coins in the tubes, coin distributing means locatedbelow said tubes providing two separate channels for carrying coins totwo diierent points, means for directing coins from said deposit tubesto said distributing means comprising two movably mounted tubularmembers each communicating at its upper end with one of said deposittubes for taking a coin therefrom and movable from one operativeposition to another for delivering the coin alternatively into either ofthe two channels of said distributing means, rotary actuating means formoving said tubular members in unison and adapted upon each actuation ofsaid members to position one of said tubular members for delivering toone of said channels and at the same time to position the other of saidtubular members for delivering to the other channel, means for movingsaid rotary actuating means, and means for driving said display devicefrom said rotary actuating means.

7. In an educational device of the right and wrong question and answertype, the combination of a casing having a window, a device carrying aseries of statements, some of which are true and some of which arefalse, movably mounted in said casing and movable to diierent positionsso as to display the legends or statements one at a time through saidwindow, two tubes opening through the wall of the casing for the depositof coins in the tubes, coin distributing' means located below said tubesproviding two separate channels for carrying coins to two differentpoints, means for directing coins from said deposit tubes to saiddistributing means comprising two movably mounted tubular members eachcommunicating at its upper end withV one 'of said deposit tubes fortaking a coin therefrom and movable from one operative position toanother for delivering the coin alternatively into either of the twochannels of said distributf ing means, rotary actuating means for movingsaid tubular members in unison and adapted upon each actuation of saidmembers to position one of said tubular members for delivering to one ofsaid channels and at the same time to position the other of said tubularmembers for delivering to the other channel, and means for givchangefrom true to false or from false to true in the successive statements atthe critical point between the statement displayed at the window and thenext succeeding statement.

8. In an educational device of the right and wrong question and answertype, the combination of a casing having a window, a device carrying aseries of statements, some of which are true and some of which arefalse, movably mounted in said casing and movable to different positionsso as to display the legends or statements one at a time through saidwindow, two tubes opening through the wall of the casing for the depositof coins in the tubes, coin distributing means located below said tubesproviding two separate channels for carrying coins to two differentpoints, means for directing coins from said deposit tubes to saiddistributing means comprising two movably mounted tubular members eachcommunicating at its upper end with one of said deposit tubes for takinga coin therefrom and movable from one operative position to another fordelivering the ccin alternatively into either of the two channels ofsaid distributing means, control means comprising notched rotary membersadapted by a camming engagement with said tubular members to move themin unison so as to position one of said tubular members for deliveringto one of said second-named tubes and at the same time to position theother of said tubular members for delivering to the other of saidsecond-named tubes, and means for giving said display device and saidcontrol means for said tubular members effective movements in timedrelation to each other, the notches on said notched rotary members beingso spaced as to cause an operative movement of said tubular members inevery instance when there is a change from true to false or from falseto true in the successive statements at the critical point between thestatement displayed at the window and the next succeeding statement.

ALBERT J. WATLING.

